He tasted of champagne and desire, and I wanted more. A moan crept up the back of my throat, swallowed by his kiss.
It wasn’t just a kiss; it seared into my bones, rewiring the way my body understood craving. I lost all sense of the world until only Jai and my need for him existed.
When we finally pulled away, our harsh breaths echoed between us.
‘Staying away from you all evening has been a special kind of hell.’ The intensity in his eyes burned into me.
For the first time this evening, a real smile curved my lips. ‘I missed you too.’
His eyes drifted down my body, slow and deliberate, before meeting mine again. ‘Did I mention how beautiful you look?’
I’d worn a deep emerald silk sari with azariborder and gold jewellery. It had an understated elegance to it that drew compliments every time I wore it. It was also the only outfit I owned that felt appropriate for the event.
‘You sent me a text,’ I said softly, brushing off an imaginary speck of lint from his shoulder. ‘You look very handsome too. I love this suit on you.’
‘I’d rather have you on me,’ he murmured, making me smile again. ‘But unfortunately, we need to go back.’ He rubbed the corner of my lips. ‘Just realised I messed up your lipstick. Sorry.’
‘It’s okay, I’ll fix it,’ I said. ‘You should go. I’d hate for you to miss your own event.’
‘I’ll see you real soon.’ He pressed another kiss on my lips before he left.
I went straight to the bathroom and looked in the mirror.
Not too bad. Pulling a paper towel from the dispenser, I dampened it, cleaned the outlines of my lips and fished my lipstick from my clutch.
The door swung open.
Déjà vu prickled down my spine when Rekha stepped in, wearing a stunning HoA sari, not a pleat out of place.
Her gaze landed on me, sharp like a blade, slicing through my post-kiss haze.
My pulse drummed in my ears. I swallowed and tried to focus on reapplying my lipstick.
Her heels clicked softly against the marble until her reflection aligned beside mine.
‘It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other,’ she said lightly, as if we were friends who were too busy to meet for coffee. ‘I appreciate your messages. Though …’ Her head tilted ever so slightly. ‘They’ve been rather … filtered.’
I capped my lipstick, ignoring the tremble in my fingers. ‘There hasn’t been much to report.’
‘Nothing at all? Because the last time we met, you agreed to tell me everything. And yet,’ she continued, her voice as smooth as silk. ‘I knew nothing about Rivaayat until Jai told us at the family breakfast.’
‘I didn’t know either.’ My throat tightened as the lie slipped out. ‘He didn’t tellanyone. I—’
‘You’re his assistant, Ananya. And you’re telling me notoneemail, phone call or meeting alert came your way?’ Her eyes met mine in the mirror and landed like pinpricks – sharp and impossible to ignore. ‘Forgive me for not believing you.’
My grip on my clutch tightened. ‘I’m here to help you.’
She smiled, small and pitiful. ‘Ananya, you’re not doing me a favour. We had a very simple agreement. Information for the opportunity. I offered you the position you dreamed of.’ She touched the diamondnecklace she was wearing. ‘Have I been taken advantage of?’
I shook my head.
She stepped closer, her voice dropping. ‘If you don’t hold up your end of the bargain, I’ll have to tell everyone the truth.’ Chanel N°5 replaced the oxygen in the air. ‘You can’t be trusted.’
‘No, I—’
‘This industry is small. It remembers. No one will question my judgement. They will never hire you. Your name will disappear from every guest list, every interview shortlist. And in fashion, invisibility is the same as death.’
My ears started ringing.
